Lafayette police investigate crash into pregnancy center as burglary

Lafayette police are investigating a crash into a non-profit pregnancy counseling center's office on Sunday night as a burglary.

Cpl. John Dombeck said a vehicle wrecked into the front doors of the Real Choices pregnancy center at the intersection of South Boulder Road and Centaur Village Drive about 7:45 p.m. Sunday. It appeared someone rifled through the office before fleeing the scene, he said.

"We're still trying to figure out if we have a description of the car," he said, adding that officers were canvassing the neighborhood on Sunday evening to look for witnesses.

Real Choices Executive Director Janna DiGiacomo said the vehicle plowed through the glass doors and far enough into the building to hit the reception desk. She said the non-profit offers counseling to women who have unexpected pregnancies and encourages options that support having the child, like adoption services.

"You can tell they went through the place," she said of the burglary.

She said someone visiting a church nearby noticed the damage and called police, but the vehicle was already gone.

It appears nothing was taken, she added. Computers and a server were untouched and no files were tampered with.

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DiGiacomo said there was no vandalism or anything to specifically indicate that the non-profit's mission caused the burglars to target the offices. She said the Real Choices logo features a green blade of grass to represent new life that may have misled the burglar into believing the building was a marijuana dispensary.

"We are a really small nonprofit here in Boulder County," she said. "We have a pretty meager existence as it is, and this was a real drag because we're just here to help people dealing with unexpected pregnancy," she said.

The incident will disrupt services, and DiGiacomo isn't sure how the organization will recover during the holidays. She said Real Choices assisted 75 families with Thanksgiving needs and anticipated helping others through the rest of the holidays.

"We need help," she said.

Anyone interested in donating to Real Choices may do so by visiting the organization website at realchoicespcc.org.